Cities in Movies

I thought I would examine how place, especially cities, are used in movies and indeed which ones, in my estimation have done a good job of this.

The criteria for selection are different from picking a top 10 movie list in general. These are the criteria I used. Perhaps you would approach it differently?

A. Does it evoke the city well?

B. Does the city have a role in the plot?

C. Would it be a well regarded well viewed movie, not necessarily main-stream, but not obscure either?

D. Is it a good movie, not just a documentary about the city and its happenings?

The list is essentially international - I would love for you to weigh in with your favorite cities as well.

The top 10 movies featuring cities would be:

10. Black Rain - Michael Douglas

Japan - Osaka is explored in this buddy-cop action thriller. Lots of night shots by director Ridley Scott, coming off his high in Blade Runner.


9. Out of Africa - Robert Redford, Meryl Streep.

Kenya. Some brilliant scenes from Africa. This one is beyond city, but talk about evocation of a time and a place. Evokes Hemingway for me.

8. Rocky - Sylvester Stallone

Philadelphia. We were all in middle school when this came out. But having lived in Philadelphia as long as I have, it is amazing how the look and spirit of the spirit of the city has been captured by this boxing flick. There is an image of Rocky at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

http://www.ushistory.org/oddities/rocky.htm

7. Sting - Paul Newman

Chicago. This depression era caper is a must see for all cine-philes. So many twists and so well acted. Great, great music (worth owning the CD). When we think of a period movie, we think of Victorian England. But this is a period movie of 1930s Chicago...like good wine, gets better with age.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAwAcxT2IlE&feature=related


6. Four Weddings and a Funeral. Hugh Grant.

London. Hugh Grant was a sensation coming out of this movie. I would have preferred this to be three weddings and a funeral. But I will take it all the same. A chick-flick that trancends its genre and shows off London.


5. Bullitt. Steve McQueen.

San Francisco. This movie made McQueen an international star. The best original car chase - two Ford Mustangs. Later topped by the car chase in the French Connection.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,456803,00.html


4. Enter the Dragon

Hong Kong. WE HAVE ALL SEEN THIS! :-)


3. Breathless. Jean Peal Belmondo.

Paris. The first international star to trot the global stage from France. This movie captures the rebellious youth of th 60s Paris. You want to be part of that era and style. Great flick.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020765/bio


2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Jimmy Stewart.

Washington D.C. Frank Capra at his best. I think this movie is even better than 'Its a Wonderful Life'. Innocence meets cynicism in Washington DC. This movie could have ended either way and it would have been just fine. In either case, D.C. really comes to life. I had a management consulting project once in D.C. and I would take time off from work to roam the Mall where the Lincoln Memorial etc are. You will be moved.

Some great scenes are on you-tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWyEc7FAMTg


1. Manhattan. Woody Allen.

New York City. What a strange director to pick. Probably less than 1% of the movie going public either knows or likes this narcissistic, neurotic, nervous, self-doubting Thomas.

And yet, this oscar winner captures in black and white no less, frame after frame, this city in such georgous shots, that you want to pause your DVD and just stare at the shots. Beautifully set to Gershwin music.

The story also captures the complexity of urban life. No bubble gum boy meets girl from Woody Allen. Instead, it is man meets girl, a la lolita. But in the end, it turns out that, in terms of maturity, it is boy meets woman. Beautiful!

Best scene when Woody Allen is expressing his emotions in a medical lab, with a skeleton right next to him. On repeated viewings, you see the number of layers that scene holds.

So here we are, the perfect movie that casts a city in the leading role - with a perfect musical score to accompany, georgious photography in black and white and a story that stirs the
adult-view-of-the world in us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-iftDiDoYQ


See it with an open mind - and enjoy!